10 Shots WWE Fired At Wrestlers (That You Didn't Notice)
7. Fuse: Lit
It may have escaped your attention of late that there's been a wrestling war going on between brand new organisation All Elite Wrestling and WWE developmental-turned-legitimate-third-brand NXT. How, if it has, is some f*cking miracle because it's been the hottest story of the year and remains so as the brands trade ratings wins and share fabulously booked telecasts.
The shots across both sides have been nominal and minimal with the exception of some of Cody's pop-thirsty digs, with the quality wrestling broadcasts mostly leaving all of that to the hardcore fans on either side... unless they can sneak the odd one or two in.
Such was the case in only the second week of the ratings battle when NXT commentator and host pointedly tried to take control of a phrase AEW had tried to incorporate as part of their own oddly familiar branding.
"Light the fuse, bring the boom, Dynamite" were the very pro wrestling lyrics to the theme of spoiled rich kid Tony Khan's WCW Nitro e-fed come-to-life, and quickly took on additional meaning as All Elite paved a new path in 2019.
Ranallo, either acting on initiative or by instruction, used that exact phrasing before Dynamite's second week even kicked off. NXT were "lighting the fuse" with the exciting evening ahead, so said Mauro. In spite of their initial denials, the new wrestling war, very clearly, was on.